Basehor-Linwood picks up first win

When Basehor-Linwood won its first soccer game of the season against Bishop Ward Tuesday, they were the more passive of the two. However, in earning the 3-1 victory, the Bobcats showed that it is quality of shot, not quantity that really matters.

The statistics showed how much more aggressive Bishop Ward was.

Bishop Ward had 25 shots on goal to Basehor-Linwood's 11. Even the offsides violations showed. Bishop Ward was offsides 8 times while the Bobcats were offsides twice.

The key to the Bobcats' success was their defense, head coach Ken Couch said.

"We just kept the pressure on them," Couch said. "Our defense was really holding true. The midfield really helped, which was the key."

Couch said he also gives credit to senior goalkeeper Charles Millison.

"Charles did a whole of our game today," Couch said. "He put a lot of heart into it. I didn't plan keeping him in goal the whole game, but they just kept shooting and he was getting the job done."

Millison, who has played in and out of goal all season, saved 24 shots against Bishop-Ward including some on Bishop-Ward breakaways.

"I wasn't expecting to play goalie the whole game, but we got ahead and they kept putting the pressure on," Millison said.

Basehor-Linwood took the lead in the 13th minute of the first half. The ball was deep in Bishop Ward territory when Josh Moore gained possession. Moore managed to get the ball past the goalie and BLHS held a 1-0 lead.

In the 22nd minute of the first half, Bishop-Ward managed their first and final goal on a breakaway. The Bishop Ward player managed to sneak free from 40 yards out, brought the ball in, and stuck it past Millison.

The 40th minute of the first half saw plenty of action. Bishop Ward appeared to score their second goal off a corner kick. The ref called Bishop Ward offsides, and waved off the goal.

In the same minute after a goal kick that sent the ball to Bishop Ward's side, Moore struck again. This time he gained possession and was able to score after the goalkeeper fell.

At the half, the Bobcats had a 2-1 lead.

Basehor-Linwood added one more goal in the 19th minute off the foot of Peter Hill from 25 yards out.

Millison said this was the best BLHS has played all year.

"We've been playing cruddy all season, and tonight we pulled all together," Millison said. "For the first time, we were really passing."

Couch said the victory was not a surprise.

"We're not getting killed other than that first game," Couch said. "We've battled in four one-point games that we lost. We don't have a good record right now, but it could easily be an exceptional record.

"One of the things we want to do is finish everything whether it is shots or battling for 50-50 balls. We won the 50-50 balls for the first time tonight.